The Shminkes

Shminke Stanislav and Irina are a creative duo specializing in light art, public art, and street art. Originally from Yekaterinburg, Russia, they began their artistic journey in 2016 after their first visit to Burning Man, which inspired them to create immersive and participatory installations. Their work has been showcased internationally, including at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show (2022, 2024), and their large-scale installation DIPTOWN is part of the permanent collection at the Goldwell Open Air Museum in Rhyolite, near Death Valley.

The Shminkes started their careers in Yekaterinburg, a city renowned for its vibrant contemporary art scene and festivals such as Undark (light art), Stenograffia (street art), and the Ural Industrial Biennial of Contemporary Art. They were active participants in both official and unofficial contemporary art exhibitions, organizing the first Burning Man-inspired events in their city. Their early works often combined interactivity with social commentary, such as their piece Превращение (“Transformation”), where viewers unknowingly became part of the art by circling a glowing steel barrel to read a spiraling text, creating an interactive experience that blurred the line between observer and participant.